Alzheimer’s is a degenerative disease that impacts your ability to retain memory. Scientists continue to speculate on the causes of Alzheimer’s in order to find a way to treat, prevent or slow down the disease. Currently, most health professionals are unsure about the causes and risk factors in relation to Alzheimer’s.

There are few well-known facts about this disease. However, being aware of this disease is extremely important especially if you are a caregiver or loved one of someone who suffers from Alzheimer’s. Here are a few things that you may or may not know about it:

Genetics is a factor of the disease: If there is evidence within your family history of Alzheimer’s then there’s a chance that you may be at risk of having it.

Age: People within the age ranges of 65 and up are prone to having or developing this disease. Risk factor spikes as you get older.

Population: There are over 5 million people who suffer from Alzheimer’s, and by 2050 the number could rise to over triple that amount.

Death: Approximately 1 in every 3 senior citizens within the United States dies of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Killer: The amount of deaths associated with Alzheimer’s is more than those of people diagnosed with breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.

Cost: Both Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the United States $259 billion. By the year 2050, those costs will increase as high as $1.1 Trillion.

Race is a factor: African- Americans are twice as likely to have Alzheimer’s than elderly Caucasians. Meanwhile, Hispanics are approximately one to one-half times as likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia than elderly Caucasians.

Gender is a factor: Approximately 67% of Alzheimer sufferers are female, within the United States.

Piercings to the body have been a prevalent part of history. Many cultures and societies have viewed piercings differently. At some point, piercings were renowned for being an ayurvedic alternative to heal pains within the body.

Interestingly enough, these methods are archaic and not enough research has been done to back the support of the concept. However, trigger point injections give relatively the same effect. The only difference would be that there would be no use of an anesthetic to numb the pain immediately if you were to pierce your body for relief.

Similarly, acupuncture works in almost the exact same way. Acupuncture is the method of placing tiny needles into certain parts of the body to help you heal physically or mentally. This concept has been practiced within ancient civilization dating back to the oldest mummy found in the Alps of Europe. He was tattooed 57 times and had many marks for acupuncture points, which shows present-day researchers that the male mummy suffered from arthritis when he was alive.

In Africa, they consider piercings to help open spiritual and physiological energy. Whereas, in India, women pierce their noses to help reduce the intensity of menstrual pain and childbirth.

Most acupuncturists consider the ear to be a “microsystem” of healing points for the reduction of pain or psychological unrest in the body. Whether or not these claims are true, it opens the doors for future medical research as an alternative to medicine. What if we are one tiny piercing away from relieving our physical or mental pain?

Giving back to a program, which strives to end hunger, is a commitment that we stand behind all the way.Going to college could be a mixture of stress, fun and discovery. Unfortunately for college students, being away at college often means fending off hunger all alone without parents or guardians around for support or guidance. This newfound freedom often leads to making the wrong decisions about food choices.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if you’re a college student who’s looking to make healthier choices:

Balance: Similar to the rest of your schedule, balance is key. Know what you’re putting on your plate to make sure that you’re getting the right amount of nutrition that you need. This mostly requires balancing your vegetables, proteins and starches. Try to aim for filling half your plate with vegetables, then grab a quarter of protein such as chicken and some starch such as potatoes. Doing this will ensure that you have a well-balanced meal with all the healthy options.

Food on the Run: Your schedule is jam-packed with term papers and specified class times. Most college students would say that they skip meals because of how busy they get. Refrain from making this mistake! Your body needs to be fueled by food. If you are on-the-go during the morning hours, grab a granola bar. Fruits are portable, too. Munch on an apple while you’re trekking to class or have a banana while you’re finishing up the last few pages of the chapter. Getting a meal into your day shouldn’t be as time-consuming as you think.

Hydration: Water should be with you throughout your day. Invest in a refillable water bottle. Water is essential to maintain your daily activities. Walking from class to the library and to group meetings may have you reaching for your bottle. If you run low on water, most campuses offer plenty of water fountains, just fill your water bottle and keep it going. Water will keep you hydrated and alert throughout your day.

Dried Dorm Foods: Most dorm rooms do not have your typical kitchen equipment. You may find yourself investing in a hot plate or microwave, which would allow you to cook your own food in your dorm without having to venture out to the dining hall. Stock up on dry food options and pay attention to labels. Usually, you may think that dried foods are unhealthy but they really don’t have to be if you can identify the ingredients on the packaging.

The holiday season is nearing! Before you get fully invested in preparation and party-planning there are a few things you should be aware of with the alcoholic beverages that you plan to serve at your event.

As with everything, alcohol should be consumed in moderation. There are lots of hidden calories and the cursed hang-over into the next day if you’re not careful. Therefore, here are a few tips to keep in mind before you indulge in your holiday celebrations:

Nominate a DD

Whether you are attending an event or hosting one, always keep in mind that your guests need to be as safe as possible when returning home. You could reserve someone that you know personally to act as the designated driver in the event that someone is overly intoxicated to make the trip home by themselves. If you are going to attend an event, then either notify a friend or family member so that they will know where you are in the event that they have to pick you up. If you are attending an event as a group, then come to an agreement among each other to nominate a designated driver. If circumstances are dire, choose a cab, Lyft or Uber to get you home.

Rehydrate

A trick to help prevent a next-day hangover would be to alternate your alcoholic beverage with a glass of water. After one glass of alcohol, drink water and keep the pattern going throughout the night. Alternating with water will help you to slow down on drinking too much. What you put in your own cup is for your own health, no one has to know what you’re drinking. Maintain your cognitive abilities just in case you have to assist someone who has over-indulged.

Limit

Before attending an event, make sure you know how many drinks you are going to have ahead of time. This will help you spread out the number and maintain a sense of control. Stick to the number that you planned ahead of time, and if you are attending with a friend or family member, then inform them of your drink limit. They could help to enforce the alcoholic beverages that you decide to drink.

Always remember that alcohol is fun but it can be dangerous. Always practice safe drinking and never get behind the wheel if you’ve had too many drinks.

In the realm of health, there are always shocking revelations with every new study and development done by researchers. Keeping up to date with changes is often a tough task, but it can be interesting learning about new discoveries.

Here are a few interesting health-related facts that you can share with your friends and family:

Drink Hot Beverages to Cool Down: It may sound like a confusing concept, but studies conducted at Ottawa’s School of Human Kinetics, have found that by drinking a hot beverage higher than your body temperature could help trigger your sweat response in your body. Sweat is our body’s way of cooling itself. Therefore, the hot beverage will allow your body to sweat more and allow for a quicker cool down.

ATM Machines are Dirty: Specialists have conducted a study, which required swab samples from both public toilets and ATM machines. Through their investigation, it was discovered that both contained the same types of bacteria which could cause sickness. Take a minute to wash your hands after touching these machines.

Daytime Napping: Taking a moment to catch up on some sleep while the sun is still up is not being lazy nor is it a bad thing. Studies have shown that napping during the day could help to improve your memory and decrease your risks of developing heart disease. Nap away!

Brass Doorknobs: Brass door knobs contain copper, which is a natural bacteria killer. Schools, hospitals and large institutions rely on this metal mixture to help reduce the amount of bacteria in the environment. However, still try to keep your hand washing routine because it may help kill germs but the doorknob is not a miracle worker.

Depression is a struggle for most people, and it has life-altering powers. Everyone will go through rough periods in life, and usually, we are able to overcome these various trials and tribulations. However, there are many who have difficulty with toxic emotions.

At one point or another, you may experience a run-in with a dear friend or family member who may display unusual emotions. It’s always best to ask about them and always remain true to who you are when addressing them.

Feel free to ask how they are feeling and be honest by stating that you notice a change in behavior or character. Lying and pretending that nothing is wrong is the worse thing to do because there’s a chance that you can help your friend or family member through their struggle, even if you’re not sure how.

State your willingness to listen and actually follow through. Make sure that they know to contact you if they ever feel overwhelmed by their emotions. Most people suffering from depression may have the thought that no one cares about them. It’s important to show that you do.

Never speak down to someone with depression and tell them to “toughen up” or “look how good they have it”. They are aware of their surroundings and what they have, but at the time of their episode, none of it will matter. It takes time for them to push through their feelings.

Always ask for them to hold on for a little longer. Many people suffering from depression may have thoughts of suicide. Watch for signs and be prepared to get them professional help if need be. Don’t ever leave a suicidal person alone.

Be aware that if you notice that your friend or a family member are really having a hard time dealing with depression then you should recommend that they seek the help of a professional.

You could be a support system, but they may need more attention than what you are able to give. Medical professionals will be able to guide them through their struggles and help you to understand depression a lot better.

There is bacteria everywhere. One of the best ways to prevent bacteria and illnesses is to wash your hands regularly with water and soap. Washing your hands also includes drying them correctly with a clean paper towel. Here are a few reasons why you should wash your hands:

Germs can get you very sick:

Imagine not washing your hands at all in one whole day. You go to the bathroom, touch a computer, cough on your hands, touch garbage, touch EVERYTHING. And then you touch the food that you are going to eat and put it in your mouth. There are approximately 1,500 bacterias per square centimeter on your skin. Germs produce toxins inside the body that make you very sick and can even cause death.

Germs are everywhere but we can’t see them:

Germs are too tiny to be seen by the naked eye. Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean that they aren’t there. Try to always consider the fact that bacteria needs a place to settle and thrive, let that not be your hands.

When to wash your hands:

Wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your eyes and putting food into your mouth before you eat. This way you can prevent any bacteria from entering your body. Remember to disinfect the things you touch, for example, clean your computer & phone with an alcohol swab.

Hand sanitizer:

Hand sanitizer is not as clean as washing your hands. At times there will be situations where you don’t have a soap and sink within your reach. In this case, you can use hand sanitizer. Make sure that the hand sanitizer you are using has about 60-90% alcohol, these are more effective.

How to wash your hands the proper way:

Use warm water to wet your hands. Put some soap in your hands and start rubbing them together. Scrub your hands front and back and under your nails for at least 20 seconds. Rinse the soap and dirt with running water. Dry your hands with a clean towel or air dryer.

As you get older you are more likely to hurt your back when you bend down or lift an object up. Every time you bend down incorrectly you are closer to hurting your back. As we age our muscles become less flexible. If your job requires you to lift heavy objects make sure you are aware of the way you should bend down correctly.

To prevent any injuries or back pain when you bend down to lift an object, this is the proper way:

Spread your feet apart so you can give your body a base of support.

Stand close to the object you are about to lift.

When bending down, don’t lock your knees and bring your torso to the front. Make sure that you bend your knees.

Tighten up your abs when you lift the object up or down.

When you’ve picked up the object make sure that it is close to your body.

When you are about to stand up, use your leg muscles to push you up.

If you are going to set an object down on the floor make sure you follow these steps and when you are about to bend down get into a squat pose, make sure to keep your back straight to prevent any back strain or injury.

Wouldn’t it be awesome to know home remedies that can help you get better with the components you have at home? There are ways to cure a common cold, a stomach ache with the ingredients you probably have at your house most of the time. Plus, they are inexpensive to buy! Check out some home remedies that can be beneficial to you at some point!

Soothe a Sore Throat

If you have garlic twice a day with a solution of six pressed garlic cloves mixed with warm water for 3 days your sore throat will get better. Fresh garlic is said to have antimicrobial properties that fight bacteria.

Reduce a Fever

If you have a fever, sip on linden flower tea. The linden stimulates the hypothalamus and helps control the temperature of your body. It also dilates blood vessels which makes you sweat. Drink three cups a day. To make this tea all you must do is take a tablespoon of the dried herb and mix it with a cup of hot water.

Make a Burn Better

Getting a sunburn can be painful and can sting. When you get a sunburn the best home remedy is to get an aloe-Vera plant and open it. Rub the gooey white substance onto your burn. The plant has a soothing anti-inflammatory gel that creates a second skin to protect the burn.

Foot Odor

If you suffer from foot odors, no need to panic! Soak your feet every night with 1part vinegar and 2 parts water! The vinegar will eliminate odoriferous bacteria. Remember bacteria likes to stay in moist environments. You will see results in a few days!

Insomnia is a sleep disorder that makes it hard to fall asleep or hard to stay asleep. There are many things that cause insomnia like anxiety, work lifestyle or depression. Certain foods, activities and eating patterns can contribute to insomnia:

Caffeine:

Many people drink coffee in the morning because it helps them wake up. But too much caffeine can cause insomnia. Studies have shown that people who drink four or more cups of coffee a day are more likely to experience insomnia. If you suffer for insomnia and like to drink coffee, try to drink less cups a day.

Big Foods:

If you eat heavy foods close to the time you are going to sleep you might have trouble falling asleep. If you eat a heavy portion of food at night, it can make it hard for your body to relax and fall asleep. If you suffer from insomnia, try having a light dinner before going to sleep and you will see a difference in your sleep pattern.

Sleep Habits:

Sleep habits can create insomnia. For example, if you take naps during the afternoon it might be difficult to fall asleep at night because you’ve already rested. This also depends on the person, some people need to take a nap in the afternoon to rest, but they can still fall asleep at night with no problem. If you work irregular hours your bodies clock is everywhere. Try to go to sleep at the same time every day, make sure your sleep environment is dark and quiet.